Spokane – Michael C. Ormsby, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Keith Bennett Gordon Studhorse, II, age 43, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced today for being a previously convicted violent felon in possession of body armor and previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Chief United States District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice sentenced Studhorse to an 84-month term of imprisonment and a three-year term of court supervision following release from Federal prison.

According to information disclosed during court proceedings, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives received information that Studhorse had body armor and a shotgun to sell. At the time, Studhorse had been previously convicted of attempted first degree murder, second degree manslaughter, riot-domestic violence and conspiracy to possess methamphetamine. As such, Studhorse was prohibited from possessing body armor, a firearm and ammunition. On January 12, 2016, using a confidential informant, the Spokane Resident Office of ATF conducted a controlled purchase of a Survival, Inc. ballistic level III vest, a Mossberg, model 500AT, 12-gauge shotgun, and approximately two-hundred-twenty-seven assorted rounds of 12-gauge ammunition from Studhorse in the public parking lot of a local retail business. Studhorse was charged in a two-count indictment with being a previously convicted violent felon in possession of body armor and previously convicted felon in possession of firearm and ammunition. He pled guilty to those crimes on September 8, 2016.

Michael C. Ormsby said, “Prosecuting firearms-related crimes continues to be a priority for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington. Previously convicted felons and violent felons should be aware that there are serious criminal penalties connected with possessing any firearm, ammunition and body armor and that this Office is committed to prosecuting aggressively firearm-related cases in the Eastern District of Washington.”

This case was investigated by the Spokane Resident Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. This case was prosecuted by George J.C. Jacobs, III, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.